As far as Premier League openers are concerned, Watford couldn’t have asked for much more from their routine 2-0 defeat of Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.

The best laid plans of Javi Gracia came to fruition as Roberto Pereyra inspired the Hornets with a leading role and two finely taken goals which will do his and Watford’s confidence the world of good.

His first strike, a superbly dispatched volley from a well-worked corner, came straight from the training ground and would have particularly pleased Watford’s head coach as the Hornets caught Brighton napping.

So too would Gracia have revelled in the manner his side went for the jugular and found a second goal their play deserved soon after the break. Failing to make the most of their chances was an Achilles heel for the Hornets last season and an issue they will hope is now a thing of the past.

Of course, a comfortable win against a placid Seagulls side which failed to register a shot on goal is no real barometer of where Watford will finish this season. It is, though, a strong foundation to build upon and one which they must now look to take on the road.

The Hornets were massively reliant on home comforts in the second half of last season as 14 of the 15 points they took since the turn of the year arrived at Vicarage Road. They have scored once away from home in 2018 and similar struggles on their travels this season will surely have more severe consequences for Watford.

With four of Watford’s first five games of the campaign coming at home, a trip to Turf Moor will provide the only evidence of how the Hornets will cope in away games until the end of September.

Mitigating circumstances could well mean it is as good a chance as any for the Hornets to lay a marker and get over the mental hurdle of winning away from home.

While Watford’s season is in its infancy, Burnley’s will already be five games and the best part of a month deep by the time the two sides face off at lunch time on Sunday. There are arguments to say more games will have dislodged any early season rust, but the opening Premier League weekend suggested otherwise.

Sean Dyche’s side needed summer signing Joe Hart to be on song to keep Southampton at bay in a goalless draw, and once again have a Thursday night Europa League commitment to contend with.

The second leg of Burnley’s meeting with Istanbul Buyuk is finely posed after a 0-0 stalemate when the sides met last week. Dyche is, therefore, likely to field a strong side in front of an expectant home crowd as he looks to guide Burnley through the third qualifying round match.

Even with the Watford game being pushed back a day to accommodate Burnley’s European commitments, the physical and emotional strain of such a clash will surely have an impact which Watford will hope to take advantage of.

Turf Moor will never be an easy place to go to and win – Burnley’s seventh place finish last term – was no coincidence – but the feeling is this is as good a time as any to do so.

Should Watford harness the energy generated from their opening day success, they may well be able to put an end to their travel sickness at the first time of asking this season.